Archives for December 2015

Minions live to serve. Now they have a vehicle ready to serve them.

The Minions, stars of the hit movie from Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment, are going on tour to meet fans in a one-of-a-kind Ford Transit Connect Wagon, the “Minionwagon.”

The Minionwagon makes its debut this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway as part of Ford Championship Weekend, the final race of the NASCAR Sprint Cup season. From there, the three Minions – Kevin, Stuart and Bob – will travel with the Minionwagon to several cities to celebrate release on Tuesday of the Minions movie on Digital HD; the movie comes out on Blu-ray/DVD on Dec. 8.

“Transit Connect Wagon – the #unminivan – is the perfect vehicle to accompany the Minions,” said Yaro Hetman, Ford brand manager for Transit, Transit Connect and E-Series. “Flexible seating, easy maneuverability and ample storage make it a great road trip van – for Minions and families!”

Ford Transit Connect Wagon offers class-exclusive seven-passenger seating, fold-flat second-row bucket seats and unsurpassed towing capacity of 2,000 pounds. The Minionwagon is a one-of-a-kind van based on a long-wheelbase 2016 Transit Connect Wagon Titanium with 2.5-liter Duratec® I-4 engine.

The Minionwagon and the Minions will greet fans at the Ford EcoBoost 400, including in the Minions Kids Zone at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday and Saturday, and participate in pre-race ceremonies.

Then, the Minionwagon will share the spotlight as grand marshal vehicle with NBC News anchor and Today Show co-host Hoda Kotb on Sunday, when she serves as grand marshal of the Ford EcoBoost 400.

Following the race festivities, Kevin, Stuart, Bob and their Minionwagon will greet fans at Universal Orlando® Resort, then in Atlanta and Philadelphia ahead of their final destination – New York City.

The biggest, baddest truck in America is yet again being recreated.

And with an economic benefit, too.

Ford announced that the company will create 2,000 new jobs and invest $1.3 billion in its Kentucky Truck Plant to support the launch of the all-new 2017 Ford F-Series Super Duty truck – the toughest, smartest, most capable Super Duty truck lineup ever.

Ford is investing $1.3 billion for an all-new body shop, facility upgrades and retooling to build the new aluminum-bodied Super Duty truck at Kentucky Truck Plant. Add to that the $80 million invested in 2014 to meet growing customer demand for Super Duty trucks and $129 million to support Lincoln MKC production at Louisville Assembly Plant, and Ford has invested more than $1.5 billion in the commonwealth of Kentucky and the city of Louisville in the past two years.

“With the introduction of the all-new Ford Super Duty, America’s best-selling heavy-duty pickup, we expect to continue growing our truck leadership,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president of The Americas. “Through this investment, we are continuing to show our commitment to Kentucky and the city of Louisville, as well as bringing to customers industry-leading trucks to help them take care of business and earn a living.”

The all-new 2017 F-Series Super Duty pickup and chassis cab lineup is the toughest, smartest and most capable ever. The goal of the series is to create the toughest, smartest, and most capable vehicle, designed for strong suspension, powerful gasoline and diesel engines, and improved maneuverability.

Why would we post a blog on winter car tips if Louisiana is known for its extreme hot summer and mild to temperate winters? Truth is, many of us travel up North to visit family and friends, and soon discover cold weather actually exists. Not only will our cars suffer dearly if we don’t care for them, it could also save our lives. Many places in Louisiana do experience below freezing temperatures, which is when our car needs help the most. Let’s take a look at what to do to get ready for winter.

Plan Maintenance Ahead

Although this is true for any season, those of us who travel know being stranded during winter is a terrible idea, even a dangerous one. Belts, hoses, water pumps and spark plugs are particularly susceptible to failure during winter, so make sure you have all maintenance and repair done before your winter trip. Your local dealership offers multi-point inspections and will make the best recommendations after a diagnostic.

Keep Your Car Winter Clean

During fall and winter trees will cover our cars with leaves, twigs, sticks, and just about anything wind and rain will bring down. While we all appreciate the falling foliage, your vehicle doesn’t. Clear your car from these debris as they can clog up areas where water or air are supposed to flow. Also, meticulously clean headlamps and tail lights in case weather gets nasty.

Tires and Tire Pressure

While you most likely won’t be driving on the snow, if you do or plan on doing it during your trip, get your self a set of snow tires. They will make all the difference when it comes to traction and stability. However, if you’re staying on regular roads, be sure to check your tire pressure regularly, as it tends to vary with temperature changes. If your car is a 2008 model or newer, it comes equipped with a tire pressure monitor readily available on your dashboard. If not, you’ll have to manually monitor tire pressure with a gauge.

 Cooling System/Antifreeze

If you follow a regular scheduled car maintenance, you shouldn’t worry much about it, as your mechanic will know when is time to  use it. However, if you’re traveling in much colder weather, you’ll need to increase the antifreeze to water ratio. Most brands recommend a minimum mix of 50/50 and a maximum of 70 antifreeze/30 water. Antifreeze keeps water used by the radiator from freezing, which would cause some serious problems.

Other things to consider are to check your battery charge, as batteries tend to act funny during winter. Also, inspect your wiper blades and rear and front de-frosting systems, as fog and condensation will become a problem.

When buying cars, more people are beginning to say “the bigger, the better.”

Ford’s November sales posted a 0.4% increase since November last year, but a major catalyst for the increase was driven by greater sales figures from Ford’s F-Series, which features Ford’s pickup trucks (including the all-American favorite, the F-150) and commercial vans.

F-Series sales totaled 65,192 trucks in November, with retail sales increasing 16 percent and a 10 percent total F-Series gain.

“F-Series and commercial vans were very strong, with an 18 percent gain for the month and our best November sales performance for Ford Trucks in eight years,” said Mark LaNeve, Ford vice president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service.

Ford commercial van sales increased 59 percent, with 17,815 vehicles sold last month. November’s van performance marked Ford’s best November sales month since 1984. The all-new Transit sales totaled 9,584, almost doubling year-ago sales. Transit Connect sales of 4,237 vans reached best-ever November sales, a 94 percent increase.

All-new Edge delivered a 6 percent increase versus a year ago, with 8,137 vehicles sold. Ford’s new Explorer sales gained 1 percent last month, with 15,141 SUVs sold, marking its best November since 2004.

New technology means new manners. In 1949, when Emily Post first wrote about automotive etiquette, the car was the technological innovation. In today’s technology landscape, cars come with growing app libraries of their own – and just like smartphones, nearly everyone can use a reminder on their polite use. Make sure in-car innovations serve to enhance, not hinder, your enjoyment of holiday travel.

Connectivity caution. When traveling through remote areas on the way to your holiday celebration, you might – gasp – lose cell reception. Know your car’s navigation system capabilities, do a brief review of the major roads you’ll be traveling ahead of time, and keep actual maps in the car – ensuring you have a backup plan if connectivity goes out. Download a GB or two of your favorite music to help get through those pesky “no streaming available” zones, keeping passengers calm, cool and collected – no matter what the journey brings.

Diffuse tension in a tight space. We’re all familiar with the drama that can ensue when hitting the road for the holidays. From arguments over the middle seat to debates over the radio station, tight quarters can lead to curt conversation. To diffuse tension, call on in-car features to lighten the mood. From massaging seats, to a literal change of tune on the radio, your car’s systems can help ensure the continued comfort of your passenger-guests.

Support existing safety systems. Battling the tryptophan haze after a big Thanksgiving dinner? Remember, the temptation to fall asleep on the way home affects both driver and passenger. If you’ve been spared the role of designated driver this holiday season and are riding comfortably in the passenger seat, don’t begin to snooze as soon as the heated seats kick in – stay alert and talk with your driver. Smart driver-assist features like Ford’s lane-keeping aid are incredibly helpful tools, but extra eyes on the road never hurt!

Be kind, respect the lines. We all know not to fight over precious parking spaces, but it goes further than that. In a crowded parking lot on Christmas Eve, no one likes the Grinch who straddles two spots. Selfish behavior is never in style, but careless parking is especially frowned upon during the season of giving. Show respect to other drivers by staying between the lines – and if you’re not a master manipulator in reverse, no one has to know! Let advanced, semi-automated technologies like active park assist with perpendicular park and park-out assist help you squeeze in and out of that tight spot.

Check out one of the many things Ford has in store for the upcoming year, including the new 2016 Ford Explorer.

For our second edition of “This Holiday Season’s Driving Tips”, we’ll talk about the importance of preparation and communication to ensure that you and your family arrive to your destination safely and in harmony.

Traveling with family- Avoid the stress of incessant “Are we there yet?” conversations by building an itinerary and communicating your plans. Talk about stops for food and restroom breaks so everyone knows what to expect. Kids can follow along, track progress, anticipate their favorite spots – even figure out arrival times on their own. With easy-to-use navigation provided by Ford SYNC 3, you can determine the quickest route, locate family-friendly pit stops along the way, and plug in your itinerary in advance to keep the trip on track.

Don’t play the passive passenger- If you’re lucky enough to be sitting in the front passenger seat on a long journey, assist your driver through helpful communication. Be sure to stay alert and keep an eye out for road signs. (Do try to refrain from refreshing your Instagram feed every five seconds.) Above all, avoid all comments on how your chauffeur is driving – no one likes a back seat driver, especially when road conditions turn stressful!

Chat with little Nikki more than Siri- Voice activation puts a whole world of information at your command from the driver’s seat, whether locating the next rest stop or calling Grandpa hands-free to let him know you’re just up the road. With today’s voice recognition clearer than ever, people aren’t just naming their cars – they’re talking to them! Just be sure you talk to your real passengers at least as much as you communicate with your car’s infotainment system.

Control distractions- Ford studies show Americans are conflicted on in-car entertainment – while three in five drivers think passengers should weigh in, just as many say the one behind the wheel should have the final say when it comes to entertainment. We all want to hear our favorite karaoke number on a long road trip, but a distracted driver is a safety hazard. As a polite passenger, defer to your chauffeur and offer to play DJ or navigate the control screen to make her job easier. If the kids in the back have their own entertainment setup, make sure they keep “Christmas Vacation” at a noise level that doesn’t surpass the cue to “Turn right in 300 feet.”

To start of this year’s series of “This Holiday Season’s Driving Tips”, we’ll first be looking at ground rules that focus on the driver-passenger relationship. Drivers are hosts, first and foremost, and whether you’re showing off your new ride to your old-time high school buddies, or taking road trips via the family sedan, here are some tips to make sure that you, the driver, do everything you can to make your passengers welcome:

1. Chivalry’s not dead… it just looks different nowadays. Holding the door for someone will never go out of style, but with automated keyless entry and remote start, modern protocol can prove puzzling. Today, driver chivalry means unlocking the door before Aunt Ethel even tries to open it, or getting the heat (and even the heated seats) going before Grandma buckles up for a chilly trip to Christmas dinner.
2. Let the grand tour begin. Your passengers may not be all that familiar with your ride. Put them at ease; give them a tour to help them feel more at home. Just like you would show a guest at your home where the restroom and kitchen are located, let passengers know about the controls they have for entertainment systems, seats and windows. Identify power sources for phones and electronics, like the smart-charging USB ports in the rear of the vehicle that provide easy access. Make sure all of your passengers have what they need before your trip begins.
3. Content beats boredom. When stuck in dreaded Thanksgiving traffic, a little preparation goes a long way toward preventing boredom. Before hopping behind the wheel, curate your upcoming road trip with podcasts, audiobooks, TED Talks –even online classes. Traveling with pals to your annual Friendsgiving gathering? Build a Spotify playlist from your senior year, suggest a series, or learn something about your destination together. With in-car entertainment and communication systems like Ford SYNC 3, it’s easier than ever to bring a world of content along for the ride.
4. If the driver is host, the passenger is honored guest. You wouldn’t show up to your Chanukah host’s home empty-handed, so don’t forget the same courtesy for your driver. To thank him or her for bearing the stress of high-pressure holiday driving, lighten the load by taking on some responsibilities of your own. Offer to help pay for gas, fetch snacks and drinks, and pack the car with suitcases and holiday gifts.

Ford Motor Company is again teaming up with the Detroit Area Agency on Aging (DAAA) for the eighth consecutive year as part of the Holiday Meals on Wheels Thanksgiving program. Their efforts will ensure more than 6,000 area home-bound seniors can enjoy a Thanksgiving Day meal.

Ford’s donation of $50,000 to DAAA not only goes to supply the food for Thanksgiving Meals, but it provides additional funding for the daily meal service throughout the year. Additionally, Ford employees and their families today assembled freshly prepared meals at Valley Services in Detroit.

“Ford Motor Company has provided more than 40,000 Thanksgiving meals through this program over the past eight years,” said Pamela Alexander, director, Community Development, Ford Motor Company Fund. “We believe it is vital to provide healthy meals not just during the holidays, but year round, which is why Ford invests in hunger relief programs here in Southeast Michigan and throughout the U.S.”

Ford Motor Company Fund helps strengthen communities by assisting hunger relief agencies year round and in many different ways – from Ford volunteers working at food banks to Ford’s nationwide network of more than 50 mobile food pantries that have distributed more than 6 million meals during the past five years.

“Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful and share with those we love and care about – especially our seniors, who are often alone on the holiday,” said Paul Bridgewater, DAAA president and CEO. “That’s why we are thankful for the Ford Motor Company Fund. They are driving away hunger on Thanksgiving with their generous donation that enables us to deliver fresh, hot traditional Thanksgiving meals to 6,000 seniors. It is not only a donation and the volunteers they’re supplying to DAAA, but a gift to our entire community.”